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Copenhagen climate talks checklist released

The international Climate Action Network has released a report outlining what would be needed for a successful climate deal, and covers mitigation, adaptation, finance, technology, and the legal architecture aspects of a potential agreement.

The check list is titled 'Fair, Ambitious and Binding - Essentials for a Successful Deal in Copenhagen', and served as a scorecard for observers tracking the progress of the Copenhagen climate negotiations and evaluating the outcomes.

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"This check list defines the actions required to avoid catastrophic climate change, while sustaining the global economy and adapting to the climate change we can't avoid," said Climate Action Network International director David Turnbull.

"The science is clear. We have the yardstick for measuring what leaders agree to in Copenhagen," he added.

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The highlighted essentials from the check list included: a commitment to keep warming below 2 °C, with emissions peaking between 2013 and 2017, and concentrations lowering to 350 parts per million of carbon dioxide equivalent; industrialised countries as a group must take a target of more than 40% below 1990 levels by 2020 - most of which should be met through domestic emissions reductions; and developing countries must be supported in their efforts to limit the growth of their industrial emissions, making substantial reductions below business-as-usual.

Also, the organisation stated that emissions from deforestation and degradation must be reduced to zero by 2020, funded by at least $35-billion a year from developed countries.

"Developed countries need to provide at least $195-billion in public financing per year by 2020, in addition to official development assistance commitments, for developing country actions," added the Climate Action Network.

"Copenhagen outcomes must be legally binding and enforceable: a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol; and a complementary agreement with comparable action and enforcement for the US, and action from developing countries," reiterated the organisation.

Importantly, the report also stated that until the international community agreed to a system that provided better environmental outcomes, a stronger compliance mechanism and had widespread support, the Kyoto Protocol should continue with a second commitment period.

This point has been strongly argued by the African negotiating bloc at climate negotiations, as the Kyoto Protocol is an already established a system whereby developed countries commit to take legally binding emission reduction targets and to be subject to an international compliance regime.

A fear existed that if the Kyoto Protocol was not extended for a second commitment period, developed nations would not be held legally accountable.

Climate Action Network is a global network of over 500 environment, development and faith-based organisations working to limit climate change to sustainable levels.